---
title: "The Dark Side of Data and Conclusion"
canonical: https://bilfrittstockholm.org/en/blog/the-dark-side-of-data/
lang: en
---

Issue 01 ● Blog September 22, 2026 

[← All posts](/en/blog/) 

# The Dark Side of Data and Conclusion

September 22, 2026  · Irena Toljan 

This is a guest post by Irena Toljan. It first appeared in her newsletter [The Third Place](https://tplace.substack.com/p/the-dark-side-of-data-and-conclusion)on September 22, 2026\. She is also on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/irena%5Ftoljan).

Are you ready for the last post? This post will sound like I hate summer streets and that I want to shoot myself in the foot, so remember, I don’t! I’m critical of overhyped data with holes.

## The Good, the Valid, and the Questionable: A Take on Stockholm’s Summer Street Stats

Stockholm’s Gatupotential report is full of impressive statistics: 80–90% of locals feel safer! The restaurant business grew by 36%! If a street project makes people want to be there, that’s a win. But as someone who digs into the data, I can’t ignore the red flags in how these numbers are presented.

### What We Can Trust

If 97% of visitors feel safe on Skånegatan, or if Rörstrandsgatan draws 12,000 people daily, that’s real, tangible success. These metrics prove that people-first design works.

Community feedback: When locals say they want more greenery, seating, and activities, that’s a clear mandate for how to improve our streets.

![A summer street by Nytorget on Södermalm: full outdoor seating under green awnings and yellow parasols, with planters and a large tower of pink flowers out in the roadway.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-nytorgsgatan.webp)

### What We Should Question

Now, let’s talk about the economic claims. The report touts 30–40% revenue boosts for businesses in some of the streets. The economic data for **Rörstrandsgatan, Swedenborgsgatan, and Skånegatan** paints a rosy picture: **restaurant growth up 60%, jobs up 40%, and foot traffic surging**, but dig deeper, and the numbers start to crumble.

The report offers no clarity on how it selected the reference streets: it claims to have avoided the economic-crisis side effects we are now experiencing due to COVID, wars, and inflation by using streets in Stockholm’s inner city as a basis and then comparing how they have developed relative to _sommargågator_. But how were these reference streets chosen? Was the reference street a street with no cafes and a recycling dump? Were they selected deliberately to make the figures look better? Don’t forget that Stockholm isn’t a particularly lively city; even in the inner city, it’s very easy to choose something like this. The report also claims that if there is no reference street, they compare it to the city average. But did they exclude the extremes like I mentioned above or the other extreme of Malmskillnadsgatan?

[Worst summer streets blog](/en/blog/summer-streets-untapped-potential/)

### Why This Matters Politically

If we’re going to sell _sommargågator_ as a policy, we need honest data. Right now, it feels like we’re highlighting the wins while ignoring the systemic issues. And if we don’t call this out, we risk:

* Overpromising on economic benefits that might not apply everywhere.
* Letting chains take over, because they’re the only ones who can play the game in a system stacked against small businesses.

### The oddball Malmskillnadsgatan

![Hand-drawn sketch of Malmskillnadsgatan between tall grey buildings, with trees, planters, a red art installation and hanging lamps, surrounded by the words access, cars, art, bike parking, planters, restaurant, clean, shopping, sitting, trash can, walking and diversity.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-malmskillnadsgatan-skiss.webp)

Malmskillnadsgatan shows why we shouldn’t judge a street’s success only by numbers. The stats look too good to be true: **workplaces increased by 67%, jobs by 266%, restaurants by 50%, and specialty shops by 200%** since 2016 (source 4)!

In 2024, 100% of the businesses along the street became restaurants. This remarkable transformation is fueled by a combination of street redesigns, real estate investments, and social initiatives. Malmskillnadsgatan has experienced a **115% increase in workplaces**, with some analyses noting annual growth of up to 160% (source 4). As a result, it is now one of Stockholm’s most economically revitalized streets.

![Chart from the Gatupotential report: change in the number of hospitality workplaces on the street projects 2014–2024, indexed relative to the inner city. Most streets end between about 93 and 123, while Malmskillnadsgatan shoots from about 132 at its project start in 2021 to about 271 in 2024.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-arbetsstallen.webp)

### Renovation vs. Revolution

There’s an important consideration, even economically: this street underwent a full renovation before the _gatuprojekt_ started. You can see it in Street View. So, how much of this success is due to the new sidewalk and renovated buildings, and how much comes from the pedestrian-friendly policies? I understand the city is a complex organism and you will never have a perfect opportunity to measure in a vacuum. Still, this case should not be included in the statistics. I asked the authors of the report about this and was told the report is quite clear on its own.

![Before and after on Malmskillnadsgatan in Google Street View: in May 2019 a construction site with a crane, scaffolding and hoardings; in June 2022 new office buildings with bunting over the street, outdoor seating, planters and a young tree.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-malmskillnadsgatan-fore-efter.webp)

_Before and after Malmskillnadsgatan_

### The Problem with the Numbers

The Missing Baseline: Without clear data on what the street was like before the renovation, how do we know whether the economic boom is from the _sommargågata_ or simply from the fact that the street is no longer under construction?

Another problem the data didn’t analyze: the street still feels like a battle zone for pedestrians. Traffic still dominates. I experienced this firsthand when an aggressive taxi driver honked at me for daring to take a photo in the middle of the _sommargågata_. When I asked if those two seconds were really worth his extra two seconds in the traffic jam, he was not amused. A classic car brain with aggressive tendencies, ready to run someone over to get through the traffic jam as quickly as possible.

I emailed Stockholm Stad about this incident in July. No answer whatsoever.

If we’re going to use Malmskillnadsgatan as a model for other streets, we need to separate the effects of renovation from the effects of pedestrianization. Otherwise, we risk:

* Setting unrealistic expectations for other streets that don’t get the same physical upgrades.
* Ignoring the real issues: like how car traffic still dominates the street, making it feel unsafe for pedestrians despite the impressive stats.

![Malmskillnadsgatan in summer: decorations shaped like butterflies, flowers and flamingos hang over the street, and a taxi drives down the middle between trees, outdoor seating and pedestrians.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-malmskillnadsgatan-taxi.webp)

### A Call for Transparency

Stockholm’s _sommargågator_ are a step in the right direction, but we need better data to understand what’s really working. Malmskillnadsgatan’s success might be as much about the renovation as the summer street design, and we need to acknowledge that if we want to replicate it elsewhere.

## Why Some Streets Thrive, and Others Don’t

What’s there to conclude after analyzing some streets? Summer streets need to have some of the criteria below, and if they don’t, we need to think about how to get there.

* **Location**  
  * The more accessible the location is via multiple modes of transit, the better. You should be able to reach it by metro, train, and bike.
* **Programming**  
  * The space could be improved by hosting different events at different times for different groups, especially those oriented toward women and children, so it leaves a lasting impression that it is an interesting and safe place to hang around.

![Children playing in a car-free street: a girl on a small bike laughing, a boy in a yellow vest on a mini bike and a small child riding a zebra-shaped ride-on toy, with adults watching.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-barn-pa-gatan.webp)

* **Traffic**  
  * If cars need to pass through, they should not disturb others.
* **Community engagement**  
  * People living and working in the area sometimes know what’s missing.
* **Beauty**  
  * A scenic view helps, and street furniture can enhance it.
* **Practicality**  
  * Consider logical resting spots where people might take a break after spending time in a location. For instance, Jakobsgatan’s benches are ideal for resting after shopping in the city center.
  * Include toilets, drinking fountains, and other necessities that encourage people to stay longer.
* **Fame**  
  * If a space is known for something, make it visible in outdoor space too.

## Final Thoughts: A Summer to Remember

Stockholm’s _sommargågator_ are a brilliant initiative, but they’re not all created equal. Some, like Skånegatan and Centralvägen, show how pedestrian-first design can transform a city. Others, like Malmskillnadsgatan and Kista Torg, prove that good data isn’t enough; the vibe matters just as much.

![Sankt Paulsgatan on Södermalm on a sunny day: red picnic tables with people in the roadway, bunting across the street, planters, and yellow and ochre facades.](/images/blog/datans-morka-sida-sankt-paulsgatan.webp)

_Sankt Paulsgatan on Södermalm_

The Gatupotential report confirms that pedestrian-friendly streets boost local economies and social life. But for whom? Local businesses still struggle under absurd regulations, while chains thrive. It’s time for Stockholm to support the small businesses that make these streets special.

What’s your favorite summer street in Stockholm? Or is there a hidden gem I missed? Let me know!

## Sources

1. Admin (2024). [Cyclists and Pedestrians Contribute Significantly to City Centre Spending](https://dutchcycling.nl/knowledge/blogs-by-experts/cyclists-and-pedestrians-contribute-significantly-to-city-centre-spending/). Dutch Cycling Embassy. Accessed 27 July 2026.
2. Debattredaktionen (2026). [Låt fakta och inte magkänsla styra stadsutvecklingen](https://www.di.se/debatt/lat-fakta-och-inte-magkansla-styra-stadsutvecklingen/). Dagens industri. Accessed 27 July 2026.
3. [The Power of 10+](https://www.pps.org/article/the-power-of-10). Project for Public Spaces. Accessed 27 July 2026.
4. [Gatupotential](https://www.spacescape.se/project/gatupotential/) (2025–2026). Spacescape. Accessed 27 July 2026.
5. [Ny bryggpromenad och upprustad strandpark på Bergsunds strand](https://vaxer.stockholm/projekt/sodermalm/bryggpromenad-och-upprustad-strandpark-pa-bergsunds-strand/) (2026). Stockholms stad. Accessed 28 July 2026.
6. [Munkbrohamnen](https://www.visitstockholm.se/o/munkbrohamnen/). Visit Stockholm. Accessed 28 July 2026.
7. Miljöpartiet Stockholms stad on Instagram: “Sommargågatan Rörstrandsgatan är ett av Stockholms livligaste stråk som 12 000 personer passerar varje dag.” (2025). Instagram.
8. [Rörstrandsgatan blir gågata året om](https://vaxer.stockholm/projekt/vasastan/rorstrandsgatan-blir-gagata-aret-om/) (2026). Stockholms stad. Accessed 28 July 2026.
9. [Levande Stockholm 2018: Resultatrapport](https://insynsverige.se/documentHandler.ashx?did=1957125). Stockholms stad. Accessed 28 July 2026.
10. [En del av Hornsgatan blir gågata året om](https://vaxer.stockholm/projekt/sodermalm/en-del-av-hornsgatan-blir-gagata-aret-om/) (2026). Stockholms stad. Accessed 28 July 2026.
11. [Sommargågata](https://www.solna.se/uppleva--gora/sommar-i-solna/sommargagata) (2026). Solna stad. Accessed 28 July 2026.
12. [Trots utslaget Sverige: här fortsätter VM-festen](https://www.mitti.se/nyheter/trots-utslaget-sverige--har-fortsatter-vmfesten-6.3.374110.4c14442557) (2026). Mitt i. Accessed 28 July 2026.
13. Saber, Joanna (2017). En plats att vara på: den tillfälliga gågatans inverkan på Stockholms stads- och näringsliv. Master’s thesis, KTH School of Architecture and the Built Environment.
14. [Stockholms Handelskammare välkomnar stöd för ljudisolering och kulturliv i Stockholm](https://stockholmshandelskammare.se/nyheter/stockholms-handelskammare-valkomnar-forslag-om-dunka-dunkastod/) (2026). Stockholms Handelskammare. Accessed 21 August 2026.

## Read next

[Sep 12, 2026● Summer streetsThe Rest: Summer Streets with Untapped PotentialNot every summer street in Stockholm is a roaring success. A guest post by Irena Toljan on five summer streets that fall short, from Nybrogatan's traffic chaos to a deserted Kista torg, and what could fix them.8 min read](/en/blog/summer-streets-untapped-potential/)[Sep 6, 2026● Summer streetsCentralvägen (Solna)Centralvägen in Solna closed one side of the road for the summer and became a meeting place with play areas, outdoor dining and World Cup screenings. A guest post by Irena Toljan on why this suburban summer street wins in her book, and what it got wrong with bike parking.4 min read](/en/blog/centralvagen-solna-summer-street/)[Aug 30, 2026● Summer streetsNytorget areaThe Nytorget area, with Skånegatan at its heart, is the most successful summer street area in Stockholm. A guest post by Irena Toljan on more pedestrians and restaurants, suspiciously perfect survey results, and why the scale of the area makes it work.4 min read](/en/blog/nytorget-area/)

Get involved

Want to help make Stockholm a better city?

[Get involved →](/engagera/)